Top 8 Feature Match: Alberto Gonzalez vs. Derek Rouse

November 20th, 2011

Derek Rouse and Alberto Gonzalez were both 8-2 at the end of the Swiss Rounds, and now they’re Dueling against one another in the Top 8! Either Derek Rouse and his Karakuri Deck, or Alberto Gonzalez and his Dino Rabbit Deck, will advance to the Top 4!.

DUEL ONE

Gonzalez started off Duel 1 by activating 2 copies of Gold Sarcophagus to banish Rescue Rabbit and Dark Hole from his Deck so that he could retrieve them 2 turns later. He ended his turn with no cards on the field.

Rouse opened up with Thunder King Rai-Oh, Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 “Inashichi”, Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 “Kuick”, Cyber Dragon, and 2 copies of Smashing Ground. He attacked directly with Thunder King Rai-Oh and Gonzalez Special Summoned Gorz the Emissary of Darkness and an Emissary of DarknessToken to the field after taking the 1900 points of damage. Rouse activated Smashing Ground to destroy Gorz.

Gonzalez Normal Summoned Sabersaurus and used it to attack Rai-Oh, destroying both monsters. Then Gonzalez’s Token attacked directly, dropping Rouse down to 6100 Life Points.

Rouse Normal Summoned Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 “Inashichi” next turn, and used its effect to add Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 “Ninishi” from his Deck to his hand. Then he was forced to attack Gonzalez’s Token with the Merchant, and lost 1400 Life Points as a result.

Gonzalez retrieved Rescue Rabbit and Dark Hole thanks to Gold Sarcophagus in his next Standby Phase. He Normal Summoned the Rabbit and banished it to Special Summon 2 copies of Sabersaurus from his Deck. Then he attacked directly with all 3 of his 1900 ATK monsters to finish Rouse off!

A weak hand for Derek Rouse allows Alberto Gonzalez to quickly finish him off with some help from Gorz! Derek Rouse will be going first in Duel 2!

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DUEL TWO

Rouse opened up Duel 2 with Solemn Judgment, Mystical Space Typhoon, Dark Hole, Torrential Tribute, Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 “Nisamu”, and Smashing Horn. He Set his Soldier along with 4 cards to his back row, keeping only Dark Hole in his hand.

Gonzalez Normal Summoned Sabersaurus next turn. Then he activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Sabersaurus, and Rouse flipped Torrential Tribute, destroying both copies of Sabersaurus and his own Landoise!

[Rouse had no choice but to flip Torrential Tribute, because if Gonzalez Xyz Summoned Evolzar Laggia, Rouse would have no way past it.]

Rouse activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 “Nisamu” from his Graveyard. Then he Normal Summoned Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi” and Tuned it with his Soldier to Summon Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 “Burei”. But Gonzalez used Effect Veiler to negate Burei’s effect so that it would be unable to Special Summon a Karakuri from the Deck.

Gonzalez Set 2 cards to his back row.

Rouse drew Genex Neutron next turn and attacked directly with Burei.

Gonzalez activated Smashing Ground to destroy Rouse’s Burei.

But it was all over on the following turn! Rouse Normal Summoned Genex Neutron and with only 450 Life Points remaining, Gonzalez conceded.

Derek Rouse defeats Alberto Gonzalez in Duel 2 before Gonzalez can draw a Rescue Rabbit! Alberto Gonzalez will be going first in Duel 3!

[After the Match, I asked Rouse if he had considered refraining from attacking with Genex Neutron, in order to increase his odds of getting its effect in the End Phase. He replied, “I wanted to press for damage. In my experience, against Rabbit Decks, you need to deal as much damage as you can be before they get Laggia on the field.”]

Gonzalez Set 1 card to his back row and activated Dimensional Fissure.

Rouse drew Cyber Dragon next turn. He Normal Summoned Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 “Inashichi” and used its effect to add Komachi from his Deck to his hand. He attacked directly with the Merchant, and Gonzalez dropped down to 7500 Life Points.

Gonzalez activated Mystical Space Typhoon to target Rouse’s face-down Mystical Space Typhoon, and Rouse Chained it to target Gonzalez’s face-down Mirror Force; then Gonzalez Chained Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand to destroy Rouse’s face-down Solemn Warning. Gonzalez Summoned Sabersaurus next, and attacked Rouse’s Merchant with Sabersaurus to destroy it. He Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Rouse drew Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 “Kuick” and then Special Summoned Cyber Dragon. He attacked Sabersaurus with Cyber Dragon in order to destroy the Dinosaur. Rouse Set Mirror Force before ending his turn.

Gonzalez drew a card and passed.

Rouse drew Solemn Warning. He attacked directly with Cyber Dragon, dropping Gonzalez down to 5200 Life Points. Rouse Set Solemn Warning before ending his turn.

Rouse drew Mystical Space Typhoon next turn and used it to destroy Gonzalez’s newly Set Bottomless Trap Hole. Next, he Normal Summoned Komachi and used its effect to Normal Summon Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 “Kuick” from his hand. He Tuned his 2 monsters together to Synchro Summon Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 “Burei”, and then used his Shogun’s effect to Special Summon another Kuick from his Deck. Rouse used Burei’s effect to switch Gonzalez’s face-down Effect Veiler into Attack Position next, and then attacked with Burei and his Ninja to drop Gonzalez down to 900 Life Points.

Gonzalez tried to Special Summon Cyber Dragon next turn, but Rouse flipped Solemn Warning to negate its Summon. Gonzalez Summoned Sabersaurus next, and when he attacked Kuick with it, Rouse activated Mirror Force! Gonzalez conceded, unable to survive another turn.